A single cask Hanyu with an interesting tale to tell. This is bottle number 150 of 204, however this cask was bottled in two halves. The total bottle count was 408 but there is no batch number, so the only way to tell the difference between the first and second batch is the mis-spelling of "Pancheon" on the label.

This label correctly states puncheon, making it the second batch.

Since its stills were turned off in 2000, Hanyu has become one of Japan's most sought after single malts. An economic recession at the turn of the millennium forced the distillery to shut its doors, and the remaining casks of its unblended whisky stock were purchased by Venture Whisky, a firm established by the Hanyu distillery founder's grandson, Ichiro Akuto, in 2004. In 2005 he bottled his first single casks under the Ichiro's Malt label.

Distilled in 1998 at the legendary closed Japanese distillery, and bottled for Full Proof Holland.

Funny manga-like label. Colour: amber. Nose: really unusual, starting on lots of coal and wood smoke as well as smoked ham. A smokehouse? Goes on with interesting notes of wet newspaper (wet paper and ink) and then various spices such as Chinese anise, cardamom, coriander… Hints of burnt caramel, matchsticks… Then we have notes of cheese (comté, gruyere), Chinese sour sauce, blackcurrant leaves… Unusual and very interesting, this Hanyu. Mouth: really punchy and very woody but it’s a very nice woodiness (no excessive dryness). Lots of dried fruits (longans, figs) as well as quite some tobacco (chewed Havana ;-)), cinnamon, sultanas, white pepper, overripe bananas… Gets very peppery after that, with even chilli, especially at the long and very spicy finish. A great example of a hugely oaky, yet very enjoyable malt.

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